Pitcher Fans 15 as Norwalk Riptide Roll

NORWALK, Conn. — Norwalk and Fairfield have two of the premier 14-and-under softball programs in the state. The difference was pitcher Ryan LaJoie in Monday's battle showdown at Norwalk High School in a Fairfield County Fastpitch Softball League game.

The Norwalk Riptide right-hander fanned 15 batters and allowed two hits as the Riptide earned a 3-1 victory. LaJoie struck out the side in the seventh to close it, giving the Riptide a 3-0 league mark. Norwalk has outscored its opponents, 29-4. The victory also turned the tables on a 1-0 Fairfield win over Norwalk in a tournament earlier this month. (Tournament games are not reflected in league standings.)

"I'm extremely happy with that effort against a good hitting team,'' Riptide manager Wally Hurd said. "She had a good rec league season, and she's really coming into her own."

LaJoie and Hurd's daughter, Amy, give the Riptide a formidable 1-2 pitching punch. "Ryan's our power pitcher, and Amy's more of a control pitcher,'' Hurd said.

Norwalk did not manage much offense Monday. It scored the winning run in the fifth when Mia Grenier walked, and took second on Leslie Garcia's perfectly executed sacrifice. After a pop out, Allison Hall reached on an error. Amy Alfson followed with an RBI single, and another run scored on a smash to second by Amy Hurd.

Norwalk struck in the first when Hurd walked and Becky Stefanatos and Mallory Rochefort followed with singles. Norwalk collected seven hits.

Many of the girls on Norwalk's team played on the Babe Ruth 12-and-under team that went to the New England Regional last year. Hurd is hoping for a return this year in the 14-and-under tournament. The team must first get through the state tournament, which will be held in New Milford beginning July 15.

 Norwalk returns to action Tuesday against Xplosion at 6 p.m. at Norwalk High. It also meets Trumbull on Wednesday at Norwalk at 6.

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